Ruto accuses 'Yes' team of misleading Kenyans

The choice at the August 4 referendum will be between voting ‘Yes’ for a divisive, controversial and ambiguous document or ‘No’ for a chance to correct it, Higher Education Minister William Ruto has said.

Mr Ruto who is leading opponents of the proposed constitution said it is wrong for the ‘Yes’ team to claim the choice will be between the old and the proposed laws.

“They have missed the point. They are misleading the public. The choice on August 4 will be voting ‘Yes’ for divisive document with controversial clauses on religion, counties and devolution and ambiguous clauses on land. On the other hand voting No will be to enable us give ourselves an opportunity to correct the clauses and enact the constitution that will unite Kenyans,” Mr Ruto said.

Speaking on his way to Nakuru for a ‘No’ rally, Mr Ruto said all Kenyans require a new constitution but a proper one and that only voting ‘No’ will allow the removal of contentious issues.

“No one can hoodwink Kenyans to vote for controversial, ambiguous and divisive document,” he said.

At the same time, Mr Ruto has denied reports that his team was being funded by foreign churches.

The minister said the claims by Prime Minister Raila Odinga during a ‘Yes’ rally in Kakamega on Saturday as primitive, retrogressive and an act of desperation after sensing that the 'No' side was headed for a win.

“We have not received a coin from anybody. We don’t believe that you can buy citizens to change their stand. Those who believe in buying people are actually the ones who want money as they tried to make it a government project,” Mr Ruto said.

He claimed that it is the “Yes” side that had attempted to get Sh1 billion from the Exchequer “to buy citizens.”

The Eldoret North MP added that it is also US Vice-President Joe Biden who was in the country recently on invitation by the government who had promised Kenyans money and other handouts if they passed the proposed constitution.
He said Kenyans will vote on proposed constitution on basis of its contents adding that the debate should be limited to them.

“People should know there’s no yard sale, an auction or markets in Kenya to buy people. Kenyans are objective and are going to make informed decision. To allege that anti-Muslims organizations are funding ‘No’ team is propagating hate speech and creating animosity among them,” Mr Ruto said.

The minister challenged Mr Odinga to provide evidence of the financiers, “name them and the recipients.”

He said the ‘No’ team did not even have materials for campaigns except its symbol the Red Card and that its little finances came from local well wishers.

Addressing a ‘Yes' rally in Kakamega, Mr Odinga said those opposed to the proposed constitution were receiving millions of shillings from church organisations based in America and Europe.

The money, he said, was being used to fund campaigns meant to confuse Kenyans about contents of the proposed constitution.

Meanwhile, Mr Ruto described the ‘No’ team Friday and Saturday rallies in Ukambani as successful.

He said his team will be visiting all parts of the country to seek for support.